Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
VOLUME' II NUMBER 10 .
CO-EDITORS
PAT RARDIN
CONNIE VAmHN
TREASURER
REV. LOUIS LOYNES FOUNDER
CIRCULATION
RUSTY CARLSON
.'
IN UNI'TYMAIAZIIE I' I'IILlS"EO MONntLY BY ntE UIIIVERUL 'rt;U"'"II'" P!ETROl'OLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES. EIITORIAL
OFFICES I. los·AIIIELES, CALIFOR.IA. MAILINI ADDRESSS 2201 'OUTH UNION AVENUE, Los ANIELES, CA. 90007. COl'YRI'"T
1871. ALL RIIHTS RUERVED. REI'RODUCTION IN WHOLE OR PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS I'ROHIBITED. ADDRESS LETTERS 1'0
EDITOR 0' IN UNI'TY. No AIIO.YHOIIS LETTERS OR ARTICLES WI.LL BE CONSIDERED FOil PUBLICATION.
I
•.........
----~ditorial Views------ ....
This is your magazine. If you do not sermons are always needed and welcome.
find it interesting it is because you nor This month we have started a new
no one else fram your area has turned in column that is cal.Ledt'OneMan's Opinion."
any articles.' Weneed articles and only, And girls, this is not meant' to be' a
you can help. You do not have to be a pr0- column for men, in fact the first article
fessional writer (none of us are), but of is by a female. All and any of you that'
course we will certainly accept articles have ideas ,on contemporary issues about
fram professional writers and lecturers. the church, our carrnunity , your State
What is your church doing? What is our laws or even the Federal elections. Our
camnunity doing in your part of the coun- only restrictions are that these articles
try? What is your State doing about unfair must' be of a positive nature. We,get torn
laws or are they doing nothing? And of downenough by others, ' we do not need or
course articles of a religious nature and want to tear dOwneach other. - .
upIDlon
WHAT
HAVE
WETOBETHANKFUL
FOR?
by Pat Rardin
bill. He also has said that there should
be a law on the books stating that there
must be a corroborating witness who is not
connected with the police in any way on
all vice arrest. He stated also that there
should not be descrimination against gays
in the way of jobs. or in the way of leg-
What do we whoare descriminated a- ally getting married. He has publically
gainst and harressed have to be thankful (and with the news media present) stated
for? Weshould be thankful that we have that he wants the gay carrnunity support •
the opportunity to change it. That is if He has thus laid his whole political fu-
we simply stop sitting around canplaining ture on the line for us.
and get out there and do a little work. What can we do for him? Vote, of
As an example, here in Los Angeles course. But equally important, check out
there is a man, a man who has spent many and talk to all future candidates for
years getting ready for a career in poli t- State Office. This one man can't do it
ics. How? Well in high school he was the alone. He needs our support, not only to
student body president, he graduated fram get himself elected, but' to get others
California State College at Los Angeles, elected whowill· support him and thus sup-
has received his master's degree in public port us. He is the beginning and we should
administration fram the University of be thankful for his brave stand, but we
Southern California, was key campaign aide must also realize that he is just the
for the late Senator Robert Kennedy, has beginning. .
been Administrative Assistant to the Calif- Yes thank God there are some pr0-
ornia AssemblyMajority Leader, and spear- gressive, liberal politicians, but also
headed the successful State Senatorial remember that God helps those who help
campaign for Senator David Roberti. themselves.
He's had the schooling and about as I have used a State Assemblyman'asan
muchtraining as he can get without act- example, but the same thing holds true
ually holding office himself and he also whether we are talking about State, City
has the brains to go with it. Oneway to or Federal elections. It is just that sane
get to,run for office is to "create" a of them will take a little mare work to
vacancy.' Senator Roberti was the~sernbl>- get them elected.
man fram his district, until he becamea Wemight also thank God that we live
Senator. in a country where we can have sanething
So nC?Wwe have a man who is qualified. to say about who our elected officials are
Next we may ask what can he do for us? He and about what laws should be on the books.
can vote favorably and ~troduc~ bills far -3
[VIEWPOINT -Return ..
by C. 5hawnFarrell
f
that labor and are heavy laden and I will up the sUJeet refrain.
give you rest." There's Hal, and Lark; there 'e Troy and Ron
In that passage do you see one ~ SpeZZbound. I heard again
dealing with sexuality -- gay or straight?
ItALL!" If you believe what He
He said,
said then truly you have much to be thank- i
• That meZody of God's great Love
Then Tony joined the throng.
+ And Randy. Dean and Jerry came
ful for each and every day.
Let's pass that love -- that gift of i And I was swept alonq,
peace and joy on to every single humanbe-
The voZumne rose until, I feZt
ing in this world. Let's rejoin the human
race! ! My heart would burst. and soon
i: Ian. Jim. and Scott and Mike.
With instruments in tune
I
Forgive my pride. but have you heard
Its equal, anyUJhere?
c!llldrllplllitan QIllmmunit\! aI4urr4
• First soft and Lou then firm and strong '.'1:
. 2201 S. UNION AVE LOS ANGELES. CALIF. 90007
• In perfect harmony.
PHONE, 213·748·0123 t My fami Zy p Zays and Love is born i
f That lives i
.
eternally.
•
t June Norr1s •• •
++++++++++ .•+++.••• +••.••• ,..••••. ~.+•••••• +.+ ••
.. .
4 !to
Mailing: CommunityCenter
1760 Market Street
Sunday: 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, & 7:00 PM San Francisco
Wednesday: 8:00 PM
Rev. Howard Wells, Pastor
Rev .. Alice Naurnoff, Asst. Pastor
Sunday: 1:00 P. M.
5
BOOK REVIEW
by Pat Rardin
GOD'S WARRIOR
As Dr. Frank Slaughter states in his Because he wants to become a man of
author's notes, "'The Roadto Bithynia' the law (lawyer), he goes to the trial of
was the story of Luke and was based almost
Stephen. There he is a .li ttle puzzled be-
completely upon traditional material.
cause no one actually proves that Stephen
Everything pertaining to Paul in that
has broken the law, but he obeys Caiaphas
novel was also f:romthose same traditional and goes along to the stoning in order- to
materials. However, in writing a bio-
watch the robes of the too witnesses.
graphical novel, as this book is, every
Paul's persecution of those very
effort has been made to follow, as closely earl~ Christians was very sincerely meant.
as Biblical scholarship and research allow
To hJJIl,as a teacher and a student of the
the actual facts of the life of Paul. Imd'
law, they were enticing people aw:tyfran
using the traditional material as little
the other synagogues (including the one he
as possible." taug~t in) and gaining membersby circum-
Dr. Slaughter's book starts out when
verrtang the law. He had sane doubts . after
Paul is in his late teens. Paul has at
seeing Stephen die so proudly,' but
~his time, been educated as highly a~ the
believed so heartily that they were dis-
local .synagogue in Tarsus can and is oork-
obeying the law that he just keeps shoving
ing. in his father's tent making shop. He
those doubts out of his mind,
de:1des he wants to learn something of Those doubts'are shortly shownagain
ph11osophy and so enters the Greek Univ-
whenJesus states to him "It is hard. for
ersi ty in Tarsus. He studies there for al-
you to kick against the goad." Paul's
most a year, but finally leaves whenhe
bl~ding was ~o give him time to really
thinks that the "Greek thought" is under-
think, .to medi.tate and pray. To bring
mining his faith in God. The only place
everythmg he knew about the Christians
where he could get a higher and better ed-
out into the open part of his mind and ex-
ucation, in the Jewish tradition, is in amine it, to see which was more Impor-tarrt ;'
Jerusalem. So Paul heads for Jerusalem.
Jesus or the Law.
. In Jerusalem he pickis one of the more
After leaving Damascus, Paul gets a
liberal teachers and spends most of his very bad attack of his re-occurin,g fever
time with the more liberal Jews of the
~iaspora ".His father suddenly becomesvery
111 and his brother-in-law says it happen-
ed because of his sins (asscciating with
the liberal teachers and Jews). He returns ~.etropolitnn <!1ommunitlJ <!1lyurrly
to Tarsus and takes complete charge of his
father's tent making business. He also
because he believes he is the cause of hi~ PHOENIX
father's illness, dedicates his life to
God.
After his father recovers and per-
suades him that it is nonsense about him Mailing: P. O. Box 2357
causing his father's illness, he returns Phoenix, Arizona 85002
to Jerusalem. He becomesa "teacher" in
the synagogue of the Libertines (freed Services: 1426 East Maricopa Freeway
slaves) ~ his eloquent sennons bring him Phoenix, Arizona 85032
to. the norace c;f the chief Priest,Caiaphas.
Ca1ap~s has him put into the highest and Rev. Robert J. Cunningham. Pastor
most ampor-tarrt school, scribe school of Sunday: 1:00 PM
the Sanhedrin, and uses him as a personal
spy.
B
I
BOOK REVIEW •••• ••• •• • •• ••••
~probably malaria) and is left in Petra by
the caravan leader. There he meets Mary
Magdalaneand, fran her,learns muchof the
life of Jesus. After spending several 100-
nths there t he goes back to Damascus.
Fran Damascushe goes to Jerusalem to
speak to Peter and James. Then back to
Tarsus t where he works in the tent making
shop to support himself and his,now, wid-
owedmotner, Several years later, after
the death of his mother, he starts out as
a traveling missionary, spreading the Word
of Christ. After so manytimes of being
rejected by the Jews, he finally ends up
going only to the Gentiles. And in going
only to the Gentiles, he insists that he
must preach to them in a way they will
understand. This means that he no longer
teaches about the Law or the Prophets. He
gradually changes his Messageuntil in the
end he substitutes two simple precepts for
the Law: "first, to love God, and, second
to love our neighbor as ourselves." ORDAINED AS MINISTER - Sadie,. LabradorretrieV!ft
This "new" teaching starts a rift in belonging to the Charles Thurber famU~ of Terre 1Jn~
his friendship .with Barnabas. Barnabas and Calif., north of San Franclscc; has been ordam~d as a. ~
Paul end up by splitting up, each going ister of the faith for Hilltop Bouse Chw:ch ill S/iUl Rafa~
their ownway and teaching in their own Her name and $15 were submitted by .~ Better Busill~
Bureau of San Francisco through a D~WSp8p$l' advertis.r
way. At this time Paul blames Peter for ment and by return mail, Sadie received her own "Ce~·
trcubles within the churches he started, ficate of Ordination." Needless to say, ¥chbishop BeD ,.
but years later he finds out that Peter Gay, director of the church, ill a bit eabarrassed.
had nothing to do with it.
In Corinth the Jews have Paul arrest-
ed a.rxi brought before the RananGovernor,
Gallic. This, however-,backfires and, by
Ronanlaw, Christianity becanes just an-
other Jewish sect. This was a definite ~tirllplllitan (flnmmuniiu (fl4urr4
victory because the RonanLawdecreed that
there could not be any new leligions form-
ed or started. And so on through the years
and countries, Paul goes , Always'teaching DENVER
the Wordto the Gentiles.
Finally when the Mother Church in
Jerusalem is almost starving, Paul gathers
moneyfran all the churches he started and Mailing: Box 11303
goes to Jerusalem. To show the more ortho- Denver, Colorado 80211
dox Jews that he is still,yery mucha Jew,
he starts going through a cleansing cere-
1OOny.During this he is seized and trameq ..
on a blasphemy charge. RgnIn soldiers res- ,< .
cue him fran the 1OOb.Because he was born .., ,"
Services: 1400 LaFayette Street
a Ranan citizen, he appeals to Rane and so Denver, Colorado
after spending several years in manypris-
ons (where he writes most of his letter to
his various churches) he is finally,by the
Ranans, beheaded. He is beheaded on the
charge of treason recause he states, "I Rev. Ron Carnes, Pastor
proclaim my loyalty to Caesar and to Rare Sunday: 7:30 PM
in earthly matters, but in things concern-
ing the Spirit and God, my allegiance is
to Christ."
A MEDITATION FOR
am aM to stard up for my brothers am
sisters, that we-may learn to accept what
we are aM work 'toward the goal of having
society accept Us, that we may be treated
as equals.
"unto thee 0 GOd# do we give thanks#
unto thee do ~ give Thanks# for thy Name A. STANDS FOR AI.MIGHI'Y.The One who will
is neaP# thy fJOnt:btousIJOl'ds deo tar e, " never leave met One who wi11 always watch
over me aM to Whan I can go in time of
Psalm '/6:1
"Thanks be unto God fozt his unspeak- need, when all others seem to have forgot-
able gift." 2 COP. 9:15 ten. I must thank God that He wi11 always
be with me no matter how many disown me.
It is the time of the year when our N. STANDS FOR NATIONS. That our prayers
special seasons of holidays are near', The are that all Nations will gather together
first one to approach us is the 'I'h.:iflksgiv- as we Americans am the Irxiians did on the
ing Holiday. This is a day set aside for first Thanksgiving in Peace aM In Unity.
us to give Thanks to Almighty God for all
of His wonderful blessings. It bothers me K. STANDS FOR KINLNESS.That I may learn
sanewhat to think that we have to have a always to say kind words about my fellow
special day to remember to Thank God for men or not say anything at a11. In this I
all His Blessings both Spiri tua1 aM must petition the Almighty to help me ard
Earthly. It should be an act that we per- that I am poor in at times.
form every day fran the first minute we
open cur eyes to the time we go to sleep. S. STANDS FOR SALVATION.That I may strive
I have taken the letters :fron the in my daily life, to start each day with
word THANKSGIV:m; am have p..tt down in Praise and Thanksgiving and to achieve the
writing the so many ways that I am thank- goal that Almighty God has placed me 00
ful to Almighty God for his many won:lr- this earth for, the goal of Heaven.
ous deeds. I w:xlld like to share this
little meditation with a11 my fellow G. STANDS FOR GIVING.That I may not cnl.y
brothers am sisters. give in earthly matters but assist in giv-
ing spiritual assistance to my brothers
T. STANDS FOR THANKS. I thank God for aM sisters in need.
giving me am my spouse what blessings He
has bestCMed upon us both in a spiritual I. STANDS FOR IN. In Unity with our
way am a telllponll way. I thank him for fellCM brethren. Psalm 133:1 "Behold hofI1
life, for helping me fW my way to M C C good and how pleasant it is fo.r bztethztlln
and far our foorrler, Rev. Troy D. Perry. I to dJAJe
ZZ togethezt in unity."
thank Him that He has given me the power
to see. hear and learn to be a good Chris- V. STANDS FaR VOWS.I thank God for per-
tian and share this knailedge an:! love of mitting me to take my Holy Uni~n VCMSto
God with my brothers an:1 sisters, woo have my spouse and that each day I remember to
not foorxl the path to God. I thank Him for Thank Him for my spouse and never lose
giving me my spouse, the grea:test person, confidence inHim and to always keep my
whan I will cherish till death. vows sacred and holy.
I
that throughout life's joys and sorrows
the Love of OUI'brethren counts above all
other worldly considerations. In every-
thing we must give thanks.
N. STANDS FOP-NEED. I must. never stop
needing God, the Church, nor my spouse.For
as a plant needs water to grow so too my
life, which is like a plant, needs God,
the Church and my spouse to grow till the
Almighty calls me to my eternal reward ~ At
that tbne my need then will have reached
its final growth.
Deacon Ray Cook, Interim Pastor And give me peace and love, Amen.
·s
I
What is Love ... ? ====
"For God 80 'Loved the worZd that He
gave His onZy begotten Son. that whosoever
bel.ieveth' in Him ehal-l. not perish. but
have everlasting life."
F·utu re
Next to the gospel 01 love the gospel 01 hope is per- primitive .tribesman watches a missionary
;haps the most blessed story in lile. It makes us opt i- plane pr.eparlJi~ to take off at Wame1ia-1D
mists lor tomorrow, and we look lor bright skies, good the West-'Irfan' territory of New Guh:tea; rbe
.health, congenial work, true [riend» and a happy
'[uuu«. =-Anon., · h
,g
advent Of '8ir&-sl(:.lo the tegion IiI' PUlIIibag,
Br
t?the Stone Age people Into modern' times In a
giant leap. The Indonesian _government. is try.
, ing, s~e think with harmful effects, to' get
the tribesmen to 'wear clothes and learn the
Indonesian language.
~etrnpnIitan Cfillmmunitt! aIqurdy
"GIVE AND IT SHALL BE
MIAMI GIVEN UNTO YOU"
The story is told of a beggar who sat in front of
the temple each day, begging for alms,
One day his king rode by. He alighted from his
Mailing: P. O. Box 5077 horse and went to the beggar, But instead of giv-
Miami, Florida 33101 ing him a gift, he asked for one for himself.
The beggar was disappointed, but he gave his
king a kernel of grain.
When he looked into his bowl, after the king
rode off, he discovered that where the small
Services: 7050 N. W. 4th Ave. kernel of grain had been, there was now a gold
Miami, Florida coin.
Then he cried, "Oh, if only I had given my king
all that I had!"
Rev. Brad Wilson, Pastor
Sunday: 11:30 AM & 7: 30 PM
11
Good News 'Today-- Although the morning services at the
Waikiki Ministry have been cancelled, the
church is in charge of the coffeehouse
MCC- HAWAII every Morrlayevening, .and manyof our pe0-
ple in the Waikiki area make a point of
Much has happened since we became a dropping in. Others whocane are usually
chartered church, back on May30. In early open-mindedand interested. Rev. Hanson is
June, we took part in the second annual available for counselling at the coffee-
Crater Celebration, a sort of cross bet- house on those evenings.
ween a fair and a rock festival, held each Every second Surrlay we have a potluck
year in DiamondHead Crater. We jqined dinner, which has proved quite popular,
various ccmmmity groups (as well as many and also take in membersand friends if
individuals with things to sell or mess- anyone wished to join at that time. Rap
ages to give) in having a booth. Ours was sessions are held every third Wednesday.
built out of bambooand tie-dyed sheets, The Iast; one featured a talk by a Catholic
and was very colorful. Wedistributed a psychiatrist, Sister Maria, who discussed
flier and free water, which was very pop- the problem of loneliness and.relation-
ular as the day \oIOI'e on. There was 00 ships between people (Both love relation-
hostile reaction whatsoever, perhaps due ships and friendships). She is a person of
to the youth and liberal-mindedness of the great understanding am canpassion, and
crc:M:l. the talk was most rewarding. This month a
In July, we had several innovative doctor will talk about·, venereal disease
services, including. one featuring songs by am transsexuals. An enchilada dinner was
a local .notable, and another based on held as a fundraising project in August;
poetry by MalcolmBoyd and music by Simon as sanetimes happens, it: produced more
and Garfunkel. These were v.ery successful. "fun" than "funds," though not entirely
Wealso started a JIDI"l1ing service at the unsuccessful in the latter goal. M ab0r-
Waikiki Minstry' s coffeehouse, but this tive pledge campaign went over with a dull
fOlll'rlereddue to lack of a guitarist. 00r thud; we will try again in January, when
youth progrem, however, has been' quite hopefully the economic situation in Hawaii
successful. Several teenagers take part in will have improved. (Weare :really f~ling_
it. They have taken over our coffee bour- the dock strdke , ) Our f~ia1 situation
after church, making it profitable for the is not too bad, however; every time we
first time since the church was founded, seem about to go broke, sanethinghappens,
and have had a hike, a weiner roast, and and so far we have never gone into the red.
other activities. At present the teens are The Unitarians, whose church we rent, have
working on a project to raise moneyto pay been most generous in allowing us to do
for an electric typewriter for the church, yard work, when there is sane to be done,
and get a rebate on the rent.
Rev. Hansonwrote an article recently
that appeared in Honolulu, a local maga-
zine widely distributed in the carrnunity.
He also appeared on a local television
~.etr(lp(llitan (flllmmunitu Cllqurdy show, and on the radio. Wehave had' many
responses to this, in terms of letters,
HONOLULU people caning to church, etc. Rev. Hanson
will also be speaking at high schools this
fall as he did last year. Wehave work-
ed closely with the local Suicide and cri-
Services: 2500 Pali Highway
sis Center •. arid rope to work with other
Honolulu, Hawaii
cannunity groups in the' future.
This has been a long letter, am I
Mailing: 2449 Ala Wai Blvd., # 5
haven't even mentioned the worrlerful visit
Honolulu, Havaii
fran JimSandrnire of East Bay early in
September, the Halloween party 'we're
,p.lanrring., or manyother things that have
Rev. Ron Hanson, Pa s to r happened.' Godhas been good to us ,am we
Sunday: 7:30 PM hope to continue doing His work in Hawaii.
Love to all,
Christine Jones, Treasurer
12
STUDYING CHRISTIANITY AND THE FELLOWSHIP
.• The study of any .'subject is to learn
.aboirt it. .By'-Leer-n.ing about it, we under-
stand it. By understanding it, our own
foundation is,' "strengthened. And the
stronger our ownfoundation, the more ab-
ility we have to help others. Andthis
posi ti ve quality can be an asset to anyone,
but it is most important to a minister,
whoshould have as his main objective to
help others.
This Fe~lowship can help others and
will help others the most by changing the
negative value system that has been a part
of this and other societies for so long.
Its negative because the hetrosexual . re-
jection of the homosexual has warped,
november 22, 1963 ruined and destroyed many homosexual
lives for hundreds of years. The waste of
rain productivity, of people has been irranence
steadily echos and is a crying shame. There are so many
despair voices crying frxm allover the world,
"Dear God, help!" I knowbecause I d.id sAnd
and now i wonder
how we intend
so did a lot of my friends in their ~n
to protect them all way. The Fellowship, with its divinely en-
(they're arriving in droves!) lightened understanding of the homosexuals
when we can't relationship to God, can do a lot to
protect create a more positive value system in
even our own society. A system in which the hanosexual
can FEELhe is an accepted canponent. This
those damned muffled drums will makehim more valuable to his country
and his country to the warLd, and his
God! we could begin
world to God.
the sure process
of world annihilation
if just one more oswald ...
BobDe Santis
just one more ...
----------.~--------
"You shall not pass this way again, .. so do any good you can do .. .'
Rev. Rodger
Sunday:
Ha r r i s on , Pastor
7:00 PM
Don't put it off 'till tomorrow-or the Chance may be lost for you!"
13
To the one I love...
Oh mydear, love starts in li.ttle
ways. I feel that our love was first con-
ceived whenwe first shared ourthoughts
in church one day whenwe were in need. I
feel it did not begin with a word, but
with the understanding of howwe felt. Yes
the first time we met was in a bar, but
the Sundaywe went together for the first
time to M. C. C., a different type of love
was seeded. No, it was not the love of the
flesh, but a love to make you happy for
life.
Yes, my dear love canes slowly and it
grows just like the conception of a child
or the planting of a tree. It grows slowly Bob & Tam Murphy
with pain and patience, but yet it mat-
ures and bloans in time. Yes, the pain and
trials and tribulations that develop be Pray f'on Peace
cane pains of joy for you to feel; yoo o chime for prayer, 6RAFt:ITI
pray and hope that the other individual Ring through the air
will feel the sameas time goes on. And calm the rush of people ..
Whenthere is love you need not feel A whispered word
Is Heaven-heard,
alone, for you kn<:Min time of lonesane- Uplifted like a steeple ...
ness you have the one you love to stand by o let them know
your side. He is there . to listen to you A prayer can sow
and to stick by you no matter what prob- The seed of peaceful living.
lems mayarise. It is a love that is there And in this hour
till death, both in the good times and in Man's 'greatest power
Goes forth in Christly giving.
the bad times. o chime for prayer
Yes, Tan, love is a happy feeling Ring everywhere,
that stays inside of you. It is a love In every town and nation,
that is sincere, not frxm the outside all That LOVE may start
the time, but deep downin myheart. It is In every heart
not the love of the flesh, but a sincere WORLD PEACE FOR
love of the one and only for life. Yes, ALL CREATION!
-CONSTANCE WALKER
this is the love I wish to share with you
frxm nowuntil death. To give all I have
to makeyou happy and achieve the goals
you desire. Yes, I knowthat in the future
there will be hard times in achieving what
you want in life, but remember I will be ~dropoHtan aIommunitu ClIqurdy
by your side to help you achieve this goal.
Youare the one I love for life, and I
hope and pray that sane day we will beun- WASHI NGTON D.C.
ited together, that it will last till the
dear Lord above calls one of us to our
eternal happiness. Yes to have true love
and true happiness we must first have a 705 7th Street, S. E.
true love for God. As He enters our daily
lives our love will be blessed and grow in Washington D. C. 20003
time and in holiness. Wemust remember -
Without God we are nothing. vJith Cod we
are everything. With him at our side our Rev. Paul Breton, Pastor
trials will be small for He will never let Sunday: 2:00 PM
us down.
BobMurphy
14
I-----~·A Candid
Look--I
Whereis your main focus directed? I out a qualm to the bone yard, soul and all.
asked myself that same question and I ask Yourarely hear discussed the accanp-
you to think on it and answer yourself lishments, the art, the beauty, the help
honestly. It would seem that,as I observe, and work which .has been given to this
one half of the world is trying to brain- world behind the scenes by these self-same
. wash the other half intobelieving that rejects. Why? Could it be that the focus
sex is the JOOstimportant, the prime mover too long has been on the wrong subject?
in everY'Tife, and if it isn t t , well you Howmanyvery valuable and 'worthwhile pe0-
.. are really square. ple have been overlooked and made to take
Lookat the movies, plays, advertis- the hindmost position by the pressures of
ing, books, newspapers and conversations fear and have been led to believe they are
going on around you anywhere and you will less than humanbecause of their sexual
see what I mean. Try to buy a toothbrush preference? Whether that person is overt
without hearing an ad drunrned into your or not, the threat is there. It blackmails
brain about which toothbrush will surely us into being less than we can be. It
give you the sexiest set of choppers this causes us to focus and defend what needs
whole earth ever clapped an eye on. no defence, that we are here and kicking.
Strange, isn't it, when the world Soon this old globe will feel the
seems overwhelmedby such tremendous prob- earthquake of a gay awakening. I would
lems that we are not certain whether we like to think its purpose is more than
will be able to breathe in ten years with- sexual. I believe that a Christ centered
out gas masks, that we are encouraged to gay life in the city of Denver can change
be sexy at all costs, more than any other the focus to worthwhile things like love,
thing. Did you ever \oX>nder why it was nec- peace, canpassion , understanding and our
essary to be so sexy? Well friends, I did. real worth as human beings, not just a
I figured it was a good topic of thought, laughable handful of dizzy queens and
seeing as no amount of toothpaste is going dykes who like to be exhibited to a "sup-
to makeme any more kissable than I was in erior" straight world. Wetoo are a part
the first place t though I might smell of this warLd and not the minority in n~-
better. In any case, I was considering bers that sane suppose, although our JIIl.l1-
what it meant to us as gay cannunity, this ori ty lies in the organization and power
focus on sex. What it has done is side- of a million voices raised as one, for we
track purposes and values that count for have not arrived there yet, but it's grON-
more to be sure. ing. I would like to see the gay people
The gay communityitself has stressed rise with the strength and all the accx:m-
the sex angle, as do many new organizat- plishments on hand that Camnuni ty implies.
ions that have cropped up. They have not Our strength lies in prayer, hard
earned a lot of respect over it by the work and organization in dedication to a
looks of things. The men sneer at the w0- better image that is superior in qua1i~,
men libers, who look down their noses at far reaching in accanplishment, and.an lJIl-
plenty themselves. The men start a liber'- age with a worthy purpo~e which surpass:s
ation front of their. ownand I becane cur- sexuality as a focal poarrt, To better thJ.S
ious as to whether either one knowswhat world, to give it strength, to work.for
they want to be liberated frxm, Then there peace with all our hearts -- these thll1gs
is Gay Lib which is feared by the krrow are truly worth focusing upon for all man-
Straight Front because they worry about kind. It's the Jesus thing to do.
what these people want liberty to 00. They
feel an uneasy threat because of a false by Jane Vasbinder
:iJnage of sexuality presented to them on
every hand by non-participants in gay life Reprinted fran The CATALY~
whoknONinglyexpound the evils of gayness
to all without a shred of insight into the
real value of a humanbeing or group of
humanbeings who they easily dismiss with-
I
R:eportfrom Denver
Friends;
I
20m
. the· J'~~
Y1lnit-----
,- by: William R. Johnson, B.A., MOt Viv.
•
Introduction by Rev. Pel'l'Y:I want to eternal life. It was not to judge the
introduce as a speaker far our worship wor-Ldthat God sent His Son into the ~rld,
services a young man toho not long ago lJaS but that through Him the world might be
mentioned in NelJ8lJeekmagazine for some- saved. The manwhoputs his faith in Him
thing that had happened to him. Bill does not cane under judgement, but the un-
Johnson is a young man taho has studied believer has already been judged in that
< for the ministry of the United Church of he has not given his allegiance to God's
Christ. BilL attended Pacific School of only Son. Here lies the test. The light
Religion and lJas the first homosexual to has cane into the world, but men prefer
ever graduate from a school of theology as darkness to light because their deeds were
an admi:titied. hanoeesua l, During his time in evil. Badmenall hate the light and avoid
school he came to a realization that he it for fear their practices shall be shown
lJasgay and that he was a Christian; that up. The honest man canes to the light so
it didn't change anything at all about his that it may be clearly seen that God is in
Christianity. He lJent to the school and all that he does."
let them know that he lJaSgay and that he Oneof the real regrets that I have
lJas proud , that he taaen+t: afraid anymore'- in my life is that I have never read the
NOlJ he is asking for ordination from the book "Throughthe Looking Glass" by lewis
United Church of Christ. We are waiting to CaI"ru11.I've been wanting to read it ever
see iahat:win happen. Without any further since several years ago I cameacross a
ado I want to introduce our speakerl Bill quotation from that book which has meant a
Johnson. Let's give him a great big M.C.C. great deal to me. The quotation is part of
lJelcome. the conversation between Alice and the
I want to thank Troy for the invitat- Queen. I want to share it with· you this
ion to speak this morning. So muchhas morning. "I can't believe that, "said Alice.
been happening in my life that its been "Youcan't," said the Queen in a pitying
quite ·a long time since I've stood in the tone. "Try again, draw a long breath and
pulpit and had the opportunity to speak to shut your eyes." Alice laughed. "It's no
a congregation of Christian people. use trying," she said, "one can't believe
I'd like to ask you to stand with me impossible things. "I dare S?y you
as I read sane ~rds of scripture. The haven't had much practice, " said the
words of Jesus as recorded by the Gospel Queen. "vJhenI was your age, I always did
writer John: "Godloved the ~rld so much it for half an hour a day. Whysanetimes
that He gave his only Son that everyone I've believed in as manyas six impossible
whohas faith in Himmaynot die, but have things before breadfast."
WhenI was in high school an9 COllege
I used to dream of a day when·~'1 ~ . could
~drUplllitan (fiommunitu QI4urr4 openly be who I am in every dimension of
mypersonhood, including my sexual self. I
MISSION must confess to you that in those days I
felt it would be an impossible thing for
Fresno Mission of me to take the risks involved affinming
myself and seeking to live a life of hon-
esty and openness. But here I am today to
Los Angeles Church tell you that impossible things do happen.
Wecan believe impossible things. And let
1362 "N" Street me tell you briefly howthe impossible
happened to me.
Fresno, California I decIded to studv for the Christian
rninistry when I was Ii years old. At that
Deacon Ray Cook, Interim Pastor
realtively young age I had scmehowcane to
understand that the true meaning. of life
is related to the giving of oneself to
other humanbeings and I thought that for
17
Life is measured by inches,
By steps taken one at a time,
Not by the height of the peak we seek,
But each little rise we climb.
the Pu~it----"~con-tin-ued--
me the ordained Christian mirii.stry vx:>uld ownego, you will never experience the
be a canfortable way of serving. I had a presence of the Holy Spirit. Youmight
~ot of growing up to do. Throughthe exper- think that it is there, but sensing ~d
aences of mycollege and seminary years, I experiencing are two different things. To
learned that there is no such thing as a experience the living, dynamicactivity of
canfortable ministry. Those whoare corn- the Holy Spirit in your life, you must be
fortable in the service of men are in all in a relationship with another humanbeing.
probabili ty not serving GOOvery well. I
grew to realize that the quality of a per- You must be in a relationship of mutual
t •• •• .
son S rnlnlStry lS dlrectly related to the honesty, trust and caring. Does it seem to
quality of humanrelationships shared bv you like an impossible thing to develop,
the minister and those persons he seeks to such relationships? Does it seem like ~
change. If we are going to be ministers impossible thing to be able to exper-Ience
~ we are all called to the ministry by in your very ownlife the ultimate, eter-:'"
Vlrtue of our discipleship to Christ our nal reality of God's Spritual presence?
Lord, And it is absolutely necessary that Remember Alice.
we be real as Christ himself was ~ to During the past few years I have ¢are
those he sought to minister unto. t<:>understand that there is no meaning:{n
. I becameabsolutely. and unequivocalIv Li.fe apart fran risk. Andany lumen being
convinced that the Spiri tud.l reali tv of whohas. attempted to relate ori more than a
Godrevealed to us in and through the- per- superficial level to another humanbeing
sonhood of Jesus of Nazareth. I knowthat knows that risk taken is a part of lifa.
there is a spiritual reali tv in life that It is hard to take the risks involved ~
is. hcl.y , ~ ha,:e exper-Ienced this Holy being honest with one another. It is hard
SPlrlt vx:>rkmgan my life. The Holy Spirit to assert our right to be whowe are in
does its most effective work whenever two relationship· with one another. YouknCM
or more persons are relcting to one most people find it impossible to take
another with honesty, trust and genuine significant riSKS because they are still
caring. That ~s simply to say that if you struggling with the necessity of being who
want to experlence the presence of the they are in relationship to their own
Holy Spirit in your life you must get in- selves. Andthis is the first step as only
volved with other people. In the security whenwe understand our ownselves and are
of your roam or within the cell of vour able to relate significantly to another
~B -
e· e· e Fromthe Pulpit--
human being. The struggle to embrace our
selves is the most difficult struggle of
life and it is difficult for all persons.
It is not an easy thing for any of us to
stand naked before the mir-ror-of our own
selves and embrace the person that we are,
complete with our short earnings and abil-
ities, our hopes and our fears. It is not
an easy thing and it mi~ht even seen to
you an impossible thing.
I struggled for many years with the
fact of my own identity. There was no "J think it's about time these g1lys got
small amount of pain and many times I ran a three-day pass, Sergeant!"
avJayfrxm the encounter I was having with
myself. I was told more than once that I
could not be gay and be a minister. I
spent much time and money on psychotherapy, ~.etropoIitan aIommunit~ aIlyurrly
attempting to change, kn(.Ming all the
while that I did not really want to change.
Frxm the age of seventeen, I pursued my MISSION
course to the Christian ministry through
college and two years of seminary and then New Orleans, Mission of San Diego
during the summer of 1970, a little over a
year ago, I leaned forward and embraced Mailing: P. O. Box 50081
the image in the mirror of my own self. I
was able to do that because of two real- New Orleans, La. 70150
ities of my life. I had came to realize
that I had allewed many people, through
the years, to fully knew me as I am, in Services: 604 Ibervi11e Street
every dimension of my personhood. And
everyone of those people ··hadrernained in New Orleans, La. 70130
relationship with me. It became apparent
that my inability to accept their accept- Rev. David E. Solomon, Missionary
ance of me grew out of the fact that I was
still unable to accept my own self. The
fact of the matter was that I had to em- ~.etropolitan (!lommunit~ aIqurrly
brace myself before I was able to embrace
th~ and accept the embrace they offered
tc i":le. MISSION
The second reality of my life was
this: I had confidence that even while I
was having difficulty loving myse.lf, God's Milwaukee Mission of
love for me was constant. It remained for Chicago Church
me only to let go of my self concern and
my very presumptuous self sufficiency and Prince of Peach Parish
say yes to the pilgramage of faith. Let
me tell you, you can believe with all your Services: 2024 West Highland Ave.
heart the words that Jesus said, "God
z
loves this world so much that He gave His
only Son, that everyone who has faith in Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
Him may not die, but have eternal life."
Many people spend their entire lives Mailing: 1114North 21st Street
oorrying about life after d!ath and never
really experience life after birth. But Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
I'm going to tell you that I've been alive
now for almost a year. Last November 11th,
Rev. Paul W. Sydman, Pastor
a meeting of the student bodies and facul-
19
r
Dr. Lamb
Suicide thougl1ts not unique
By LIl..-rence Lamb-, M.D. bope ~,COUld anrange for someone near your bometOget
in IImJdh ~th:yoo.
Dewr Dr. ,Lamb ~. 'Please help me. iI don't understand
Many y~Wlg people do have emotionalPfOb~HealtJJ
what's. wro~. I ~ed ~~kiIII
mysel1fItnday wiith.an ov~dose of
authorities 'atcolileges and universities willl~~ qut..I~~.j
piRs, ,bUt I.~ldn'.t. I don't understand wty I was put o,n
a difficult ~rl1e,estabti$ing life values and' gOals.You'~
earth.~vetyone was:wt:' her tor· some reason, but I don t
not unique in having dtmculty.
b8.ve one. I'm Ifl, .still shy. I disHke .people: ~d, at the
Almost everyone has bad temporary tbouglits·ofsulCfde~. It
presen¢,'I'm:very ashamed ~mysel!f fo~ galru.~g back ~
po,unds ~One month. I eat until I getphysrcally Sick. I don t it Is anything more than a ~mporary' .th()light .Iuch a ~~~n
knoW' why,but it's drivililg me crazy. '1hate myseJlfbecause of should talk over the problem.,~ hiS 4Oetor. ,~~ .~
wUL be necessary to see a phySchiatrist- .to,::4Iscuss ~ I
it
lbaite ,to' liate m:yseU,but When I lost 4!ha.t20 pounds ~was problems, to resolve the inner conflicts that !lave led t6 so
never iSO'proud.of;myselfi.n my entire lilfe.Th~ was pnde to muCh unllappiness. , .
live on. Now1llhere's no !Pride ud I want to dies so badly. For people who are fortunate. en()Ugh ,to .1iVe,.tn,aIocaIlW
11he' ,main ~son thai/: I can't go It:h~ with my sw.,cide where a suicide prevention center isactsive,' he~ ~ ·ue
~tt~ts';rs ~ I dOn't want to ~.anyone (especially
gotten JD periods ·of severe stress by calling_ center. If ~
haVe one, it .wln be listed in your te~ 'dfnctory. ~
my mmily) . I've triej to e~in my problems to. my mother centers have saved ~ lot of livesand',·hdped,·iDjtny' P!oPle
buot she }ust laiughs and says ~t [ dQri'tfuwe any problems.
tliroughsome rough spots. ,
I hate,~. and I don't want to live,. but I'm scared. to OVereating to the ~ your describe is often part oNhe
die. lPt~belp me. I'm so miserable. ~ .you for bemg picture of emotional.di$t~.
th~, Jt~a .person 'someone .to talk to.
No one shouldlgnoreanotherpersoti's "cry for,heJp'J<".e.t
near'R'aader - I hope you 8II'efeeling betltet now.·:rhe best be talks a})Qut,his death wish,or suICide. It is tlm.·tcWlatM
_g I qlaild 1IhInkof to help you was to. have ~ New. York and totty to get help.
SulCdde 'Prevention center Wormed of your problem and
I1llWUIU
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